Improvement in mail-bag fastenings



l. A. PAUL.

Mail-Bag Fastenings.

Patented Ju ly8,1873.

AM PHD TO-LITHOBRAPHIG ca MK (ossamvslc mamas) UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. PAUL, OF HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ANDREW B. BRUMBAUGH, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,639, dated July 8, 18713 application filed January 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. PAUL, of Huntin gdon, in the county of Hnntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Mail-Bag Fastenings, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to means for securing or fastening mail-bags; and the invention consists of a pair of jaws hinged together and provided with a sliding clasp, so constructed and arranged that when the jaws are closed the clasp, by a slight movement, is made to lock and hold the jaws together, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device with a portion broken away to exhibit the internal construction. Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite or rear side, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 00 no of Fig. 1.

My device consists oftwo metal jaws of a suitable size and form to fit the mouth of a mailbag, these two jaws A and B being hinged together, as represented at a in the drawings. The jaw B is formed with a flange, 5, projecting laterally from its inner face at the top, as shown in Fig. 3, while the jaw A is formed so as to shut under said flange and against the face of thejaw B. Thejaw A has a series of notches, it, formed in its upper edge, as shown in Fig. 1. p I then construct a sliding clasp, E, to fit over the top of both jaws, as shown in Fig. 3; this clasp extending down over the jaw B far enough to permit a couple of stops, 0, to project through slots in the clasp, as shown in Fig. 2, these stops 0 being secured to the jaw B, and serving to secure the clasp to the jaw, and also to limit its motion. On its front face the clasp E is provided along its lower edge with a series of projections, 0, corresponding in size and number with the notches n in the jaw A, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the clasp is slid back, as represented on the left-hand part of Fig. 1, the notches and projections of the jaw and the clasp will be opposite to each other, and thus permit the jaw to be opened or closed. This clasp E I have shown made in two parts, arranged to slide from each other, in order to release the jaws, though it is obvious that it may be made in a single piece, if preferred. When made of two parts, a staple or loop, D, is formed on the adjoining ends of each, through which when closed, the hasp of a lock can be passed, to secure them in place, and thus lock the jaws together, as it is obvious that, when the clasps are drawn together, the flanges or projections 0 thereon will slide over the projections on the jaw A, and thus prevent the latter from being opened. In order to unite the parts more securely, the projections on the jaw A are provided with alaterally-proj ectingflange, I, along their upper edge, which fits into a corresponding groove in the projections 0 of the clasp E, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner face of thejaw B may be made with a flat and even surface, or it may be formed with projections h to fill the notches in the jaw A, as shown in the right-hand partofFig. 1. Thejaws thus made are to be secured to the mouth of the bag by rivets, or in any suitable manner, I) of Fig. 3 representing the bag in section secured to the inner face of the jaws.

From the foregoing description the manner of using the device will be readily understood. All that is necessary is to close the jaws and draw the clasps E together and lock them. To open the bag the lock is removed, the clasps shoved back, and the jaws opened.

The advantages of this device over that generally used is apparent, especially in the saving of time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The jaws A and B, one of said jaws being notched, as described, in combination with one or more sliding notched clasps, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN A. PAUL.

Witnesses:

J. F. SoHooK, T. W. MYTON. 

